More

Best Places To Create Your Own Christmas Gifts In Los Angeles

November 23, 2012 6:00 AM

(Photo Credit: Getty Images/William Thomas Cain)

(credit: Paint ‘n’ Play Art Studio)

Winter means kids will be on vacation, making this a fabulous time to teach a child or loved one how to make a project or a gift. Families love activities that are informative and interesting, and everyone loves receiving gifts. This year, give a present that is one of a kind. These are the best places to create your own Christmas gifts in Los Angeles.

Candle making is one of the fun ways the entire family can come together and make a gift either for themselves or as a special treat for a friend or family member. At this candle store, each part needed to make a candle — including scents, molds, waxes, additives, dyes, containers, lids and gift boxes — are for sale. There are even candle-making kits and candle-supply kits available for hobbyists and professionals. Some of the wonderful scents to choose from are red currant, ocean side, rain forest, pear, roasted hazelnut, rose and serenity. Dyes come in dye chips, liquid dye and dye flakes so that you can make a candle in your favorite shade or combine colors. General Wax & Candle Company carries an assortment of fun shapes such as hearts, stars, oval, triangle and diamonds to help families get exactly what they want this holiday season.

Klean Spa carries items such as body scrubs, skin polishers, hair care products, bath syrups, salt soaks and a lot more goodies to replenish your skin’s appearance. Explore an interesting line of products — Wisdom of the Kitchen — designed to bring people together and create the experience everyone will enjoy in the kitchen cooking together. Products include exfoliators, kitchen candles, kube soaps and lotions. Personalize your gifts this season with your own scent at a host blending party. Parties may choose from essential oils such as pepper grass, lemon crush, white basil and almond biscotti. It even offers holiday scents such as simply chai, cinnamon kiss, let it snow, peppermint dream and caramel apple. After all the fun of making a custom scent, participants take home a roll-on perfume and a lotion. If families are not able to make it to a blending immediately, Klean Spa also sells gift certificates.

Cyclists love to decorate fixies in their favorite colors and add their own custom designs, creating the perfect personalized option for anybody this year. Jax’s Bicycle Center offers every important item a bike rider could imagine. It carries hubs, chains, frames, helmets, bike racks, shoes and clothing. Some of the essentials that bikers like to add to their bikes when they are creating a fixie are bells, stickers, colored spokes, rims and motorcycle grips.

Children and adults may sculpt a creation, personalize ceramics, or make a keepsake to cherish year after year. Especially if you have little ones, don’t miss out on making impressions to track the size or age of the creator with a permanent impression using a baby’s hand or foot. Pets are even welcome to make an impression. Guests can also design a sports ball. This is a favorite for softball players, basketball players and football team members. Be sure to at least try the potter’s wheel while you’re there, though it does take some skill. Here, anyone can make a vase, bowl or a jar.

Bordz Skate Shop has every amateur and pro skater’s needs covered. It carries clothing, skateboards, wheels and accessories. Make a custom skate board with Bordz’s reasonably priced items. To top it off, it’s stocked with name brands including Dark Star, World Ind, Spitfire, Silent Skateboard Co., Nike SB, Fresh Breed and Kush Life. Bordz prides itself on helping families pick the right board, selling the coolest wheels, providing awesome board designs, and carrying the freshest and newest colors for parts. Also take home tips and tricks to get just the right board and keep it running well after the holidays. If you need to update your personalized skateboard, or just need daily care products, come here for stickers, wax and bearings.